Seneca was a philosopher born in 4BC who moved to Rome and tutored emperor Nero (hence his relevance to Taleb's pseudo-realistic plot). He spent many years of exile in Corsica and corresponded with Lucilius, a Roman knight.

The content of his letters proved to be less about the specific and more about general philosophy, and these letters are sort of a mini-handbook for life. I was impressed to see him talk about a number of quite "advanced" topics that were ahead of his time period, such as his plea for the equality of the sexes, the sanctity of marriage, and the humane, almost equal treatment of slaves.

I found myself agreeing to a lot of his points, especially about not wasting time and about envisioning (and living out) one's worst fears in order to realize that they aren't that bad. We can be aware of risks and dangers, but we should not be ruled by worry for all the things that may one day happen. I liked his plea for rationality and individualism, and I can see all the ways his philosophy inspired and gave a foundation for many of Taleb's points.

Below are my notes on the book, which is divided into 65 of his letters to Lucilius.

1 on saving timeAll we have is timeDo not waste it and live each moment for purpose

2 discursiveness in readingWell ordered mind can remain in one place and linger in its own companyCannot shift so much between authors or countriesWant friends not acquaintancesRead standard authorsDigest each thoroughlyContented poverty is an honorable estateProper limits of wealth: first to have necessary then to have enough

3 on true and false friendshipTrue friendship when can trust another man like selfDon't misuse the wordTreat men as loyal so they will be

Letter four on the terrors of deathNo man can have a peaceful life who only thinks about lengthening itThere's nothing to be dreaded about deathNeed to know how to dieNo good thing renders happiness unless can reconcile with its lossEncourage and toughen spirits against mishapsHe who has made a fair compact with poverty is richPossessions make us threadbare

5 on the philosophers meanAvoid perverted forms of self display to draw commentPhilosophy gives sympathy for all menLive according to natureDo not torture bodyPhilosophy calls for plain living but not for penanceCease to hope and you will cease to fearFear follows hopeA mind that is in suspense about the futureShould adapt ourselves to the present instead of sending our thoughts along to the futureBeasts avoid the dangers in front of their eyes and once they're past them they cease to careBut our memory recalls dangers and our foresight anticipates them

Letter six: on sharing knowledgeNo good thing is pleasant to possess without friends to share itBegin to be a friend to yourself

Letter 7: on crowdsHorrors of roman death gamesWithdraw into yourself and only be around those who can make you a better manOne man means to me as much as a multitude and a multitude means to me as much as one manI write this not for the many but for you; each of us is enough of an audience for each otherScorn the applause of the audience

Eight: on the philosophers seclusionWithdraw from men and work for later generationsTreat body rigorously so it is not disobedient to the mindEat and drink just to relieve hungerIf u enjoy real freedom then must be slave to philosophyGifts of chance are not to be regarded as our possessions

9: on philosophy and friendshipWise man is self sufficient but desires friendsCan do without them but desires not toDesires friends for practicing friendshipNatural context and not his own needs draws ppl to friendsEasier to conquer tribe than one man

10: on living to oneselfPray for sound mind and health

11: on the blush of modestyShyness and public speakingChoose a master to help regulate character

12: on old ageWhen man has been able to say I have lived then every day is extra giftBest ideas are common propertyMany quotations from Epicurus

13: on groundless fearsThere are more things that can frighten us than can crush usDon't be unhappy until the bad stuff happensWe are in the habit of imagining sorrowLook forward to better thingsStop getting ready to live all the time

14: on the reasons for withdrawing from the worldWe should not live for the body but we cannot live without itWe fear want, sickness, troubles from the strongerHave nothing others can snatch from youAvoid hatred jealousy and scornThe Wise man regards the reason behind his actions but not the results which are in fortunes handsHe who enjoys riches least enjoys riches most

15: brawn and brainsMust study philosophy to be wellLimit the fleshDo short exercises to tire body quicklySome weights and jumpingCome back quickly to exercising mind dailyMind can take break

16: philosophy the guide of lifeIf you live according to nature you'll never be poorIf you live according to opinion you'll never be rich

17; philosophy and richesPoverty is contented in fulfilling pressing needsLive simplyStart studying philosophy now instead of first acquiring livingStudy while acquiringLearn to endure hungerThe acquisition of riches is a change of troubles and not an endEnds letters with a "gift": quotes from Epicurus (who advocated pleasure??)Malady goes with the man's mind not the riches

18 festivals and fastingStop togaOne may holiday without extravaganceTrain body and soul for crisis before it comesSet aside certain days to have the scantiest of fareBegin having business relations with poverty

19: worldliness and retirementReflect with whom eating more than what

20: practicing what u preachSee if ur dress and ur house inconsistentPersist and do not jump tracksWisdom is always desiring the same things and always refusing the same thingsPoverty will keep for u ur true and tried friendsHe is truly great who can be poor amid riches

21: renown my writings will give uHis name will lastDo not add to his honors/pleasures but subtract from his desires

22; futility of halfway measuresDo not attempt anything until suitable time

23: true joy from philosophyDo nut find joy in useless thingsLearn to feel real joyRejoice only in that which comes from ur own storeThey live ill who are only beginning to liveMust be able to live as if already had complete life

24: despising deathDon't anticipate trouble by worrying about futureAssume all trouble will happen and then estimate all fear and realize not significantDeath is the last but not the only death

25: on reformationPrefer to lack success than lack faith to try something difficultLive life in spiritual company of great man like EpicurusOnly time to withdraw into solitude is when in crowd

26: old age and deathGetting ready to pass judgment on selfBody getting tired but mind still sharpThink on deathNo slavery for one who can die

27: the good which abidesAdmitting to lucilius his innermost thoughtsCannot buy or borrow a sound mind

28: travel as cure for discontentThoughts follow u wherever u goU flee along with selfLet aside burdens of mindThe person u are matters more than where u rSee entire world as ur countryKnowledge of sin is beginning of salvation

29: critical condition of morcelinusDo not advise men who are not readyNever cater to crowd for what I know they do not approve and what they approve I do not know

30 on conquering the conquerorEquality of deathThink on death to not fear it

31 siren songsStop up earsDo not toil for no reasonsGood is the knowledge of things

32 progressBe unknown to most ppl

33 futility of learning maximsDon't chase after choice extractsFull texts as important and great Make extracts not memorize others'One thing to remember and another to knowInvestigate and don't just follow

34 promising pupilProud of lucilius

35 friendship of kindred mindsFriendship vs love

36 value of retirementYoung man must store upOld man must use

37 allegiance to virtueReason as rulerNot impulse

38: quiet conversation

39 noble aspirations

40: proper style of philosophers discourseReal trace of absent friendSpeech should be composedEloquence flows gently and slowlyEase rather than speed

41 on the gd within usMan as reasoning animalLive in accordance with his own nature

42 on valuesSee how much we must pay in non cash for various thingsOften pay of ourselvesHe that owns himself loses nothing

43 relativity of fameDon't regard yourself based on how others see u or gossip

44 philosophy and pedigreesPromotion based on work and noble mindRejecting no one

47 man and slaveReally equalAll men treated same by fortuneGood to dine with slavesSlaves talk about their masterSee in slave a freeborn man just as u can be seen as a slaveTreat your inferiors as u would ur bettersLet Slave talk and live with uGood material stands want of an artistAll men slaves to fear

48 quibbling as bad for philosopherPrefer frankness and simplicity

49 shortness of lifeInfinitely swift is passage of timeAll in memoryPoint of time infinitesimalDon't waste time on superfluous thingsSilliness of dialectic poetsGood in life does not depend on length but on fullnessNature gave us reasonTruth is simple; don't over complicate language

50 our blindness and its cureNobody sees them self as blindBut the blind ask for guidesLearning virtue means unlearning viceVirtue is according to nature